How to Reach the World, Part 1

Sing it with me:

“I will no longer be a non-force.”

That’s the mantra of your mission.

Because whether you’re the leader of a congregation, the executive director of a non-profit, the author of a mommy blog or a political candidate running for office, the dream still remains the same:

To reach the world.

And, to turn that world upside down once you get there.

Here’s how: (read part two here!) 1. Commitment plus consistency equals reachability. Nothing can stop a consistent will and a committed heart. In Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, she writes:

“Do not let your fire go out. Spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swaps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists. It is real. It is possible. It’s yours.”

Now, the secret to putting her words to action is to clarify your definition of the word “reach.” According to my research, the term has many meanings:

To succeed in touching. To stretch out your hand. To put right. To arrive at. To make contact with. To influence. To establish communication. To penetrate.

What’s yours? What does reaching look like to you? Because only when you clarify and commit to your definition of reaching can you execute it exquisitely.

Remember: Take your commitments seriously and with glowing intensity – the world will do the same. Is your dedication a dinner candle or a dungeon torch?

2. Decide if you’re going to be an architect or an advocate. I heard NPR highlight the distinction between these two roles during a recent episode of All Things Considered. Here’s the breakdown:

An architect is chosen to build; an advocate is called to aid.

An architect is a master of space; an advocate is a master of voice.

An architect specializes in design creation; an advocate specializes in message distribution.

An architect plans for an issue when it’s most profitable; an advocate stands for an issue when it’s least popular.

Now, it’s possible that your role includes a little bit of both. And that’s cool. Odds are, however, one particular role will suit your style best. For example, I’m a writer and a speaker – not a planner and a detailer. Ergo, I lean towards advocacy. And I pay people to do the rest.

The challenge is twofold: Figure out if you’re more of an architect or an advocate – then solicit support from smart people who can fill the gaps. Are you drawing the blueprints or communicating the vision of the blueprints?

3. Begin in your own backyard. Last time I checked, the world was a pretty big place. And when reaching it seems overwhelming, starting where you already are is the perfect first step.

For example, how many of your neighbors know what you’re passionate about? How many of your coworkers know the causes you fight for? And how many of the people on your intramural kickball team understand what you really do all day long?

Work on closing that gap. Make sure the people that see you the most know who you are, where you are and why you are. They don’t have to become your best friends. But if you want to reach the people in your immediately proximity, simply being friends with them on Facebook isn’t enough.

You gotta gush. You gotta infect them with your enthusiasm.

Now, the only caveat is: If you plan to start small in your own backyard, walk with love instead of judgment. Be the light that illuminates the darkness, not the voice that condemns it.

After all, you reach the world by opening you palm – not pointing your finger. And you have to believe that the people you meet aren’t just targets. They’re not just another pair of clapping hands in your audience. You have to think about what you see when you see people. Who are the ten most logical individuals you need to reach first?

4. Broadcast your ministry. No religion necessary. The word “ministry” comes from the Latin ministerium, which means, “office, service.” And it’s impossible to reach the world without it.

The secret is making sure you don’t fall into the trap of pathological service. According to leadership legend Warren Bennis, those type of people only serve because their need to be needed is greater than the needs of those they were supposed to be meeting.

Might be helpful to ask yourself why you want to reach the world: Because you want change it for the better – or because you want your signature at the bottom on the canvas?

And look: Nothing against signing your work. Just make sure your ego doesn’t eclipse your purpose. And make sure that when you broadcast your ministry to the world you hope to reach, the interference is kept to a minimum. What’s the motivation behind your movement?

Ultimately, reaching the world – however you define that process – comes with its share of ups and downs.

THE TRICKY PART IS: It’s terrifying because the world feels so big; and it’s frustrating because you feel so small.

THE COOL PART IS: There has never been a better time in history to reach the world.

Dealing yourself into the game has never been easier. Thanks to those nerds you used to pick on in high school, technology now enables us to overcome barriers of distance and accessibility. Even one person on a laptop sitting in his living room can achieve immediate global disbursement of a message that matters.

But.

Only if you commit with both feet.
Only if you execute consistently and exquisitely.
Only if you believe that you possess the means to propel yourself into the orbit you want.

LOOK: Reaching the world is not some arbitrary eruption.

Never allow a gloomy reality to overshadow the possibility of a glorious future.

This is to be your symphony.

And remember that the real question isn’t, “Will you reach the world?” but rather…

LET ME ASK YA THIS…
How will you change the world once you reach it?

LET ME SUGGEST THIS…
For the list called, “20 Types of Value You Must Deliver,” send an email to me, and you win the list for free!

* * * *
Scott Ginsberg
That Guy with the Nametag
Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur, Mentor
[email protected]

Never the same speech twice.

Watch The Nametag Guy in action here!